Hinge



E. W. NORTH New, 112, 13%,

HINGE IN VEN TOR.

l ll Filed Feb. 4, 1955 ELZ'LUZ/LZ/J/i/Offiv, MW? ATT RNEYS.

Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Edwin W. North, Rockford, Ill., assignor to National Look (30., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application February 4, 1935, Serial No. 4,798

4 Claims.

This invention relates to hinges and, while capable of many uses, is particularly adapted for use as a refrigerator hinge to support the heavy door of a refrigerator cabinet. The invention of this application is an improvement upon my copending application Serial No. 742,561, filed September 4, 1934.

The purposes of the invention are to provide a hinge which is strong and durable, one which can be economically manufactured, and one which will present a pleasing appearance and give an impression of massiveness and strength.

In the drawing illustrating a practical and preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional view of a refrigerator cabinet and door equipped with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a hinge embodying my invention;

0 Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig.4.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, reference character 6 indicates generally a door post of a refrigerator cabinet to which the door I is hinged. The structural details of the cabinet,

such as the sealing strip 8 and other features, may

be of any preferred construction.

The hinge proper comprises a base 9 and a leaf N having at the top and bottom projections which are curled to form the knuckles l2 between which the base 9 is disposed. Pintle pins l3, fluted or otherwise roughened so as to be firmly anchored in the knuckles by a drive fit, project inwardly through bearing openings formed in the forwardly projecting end portions l3 of the base,

as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The outer end of each pintle is equipped with a large disc-like head l4. and between each knuckle and the end portion E3 of the base a bearing washer I5 is interposed which has an up-turned flange Iii of the same diameter as the head I l.

The base is enclosed and concealed by a cover i'i of sheet metal substantially U-shaped in cross section which snugly fits over the base and embraces the sides thereof so as to be frictionally held in place. To insure against longitudinal dis-' placement of the cover its upper and lower ends are inwardly flanged as indicated at 18 to engage correspondingly shaped grooves in the end portions 13' of the base. a

The knuckles are enclosed and concealed by caps or tips IQ of sheet metal or other preferred material of the same diameter as the cover I! and presenting the appearance of being a continuation thereof. These caps are dimensioned to snugly embrace the pintle heads I4 and. the washer flanges I 6 by which the caps are frictionally retained in place.

The structure as a whole presents the appearance of massiveness, strength and symmetry, al- 5 though the apparently solid metal exposed portions are in reality cover members for the concealed operating parts which, while strong and durable, are much lighter than the appearance presented would indicate. 10

The structural details may obviously be varied within considerable limits without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim: l5

1. A hinge comprising a base member having outwardly projecting end portions provided with bearing openings, a leaf provided with knuckles disposed in alignment with said bearing openings,

a pintle anchored in each knuckle and having 20 one end thereof extending into one of said base member bearing openings and being provided at its other end with an enlarged head, a washer interposed between each knuckle and the end portion of the base, the external diameter of said 25 washer being substantially that of said pintle head, a cap enclosing each knuckle and frictionally engaging said washer and pintle head, and

a cover enclosing said base member.

2. A hinge comprising a base member having 30 end portions provided with bearing openings, a leaf provided with knuckles aligned with said openings; a pintle anchored in each leaf and extending into one of said bearing openings, a washer interposed between each knuckle and said base, a cap enclosing each knuckle, means carried by said pintle and washer for frictionally retaining said cap in position, and a removable cover enclosing said base.

3. A hinge comprising a base member, a leaf member provided with knuckles, pintles affording a pivotal connection between said knuckles and base member, washers interposed between'the base member and said knuckles, caps enclosing said knuckles and frictionally engaging said pin- 45 tles and washers, and a cover enclosing said base member.

4. A hinge comprising a base member, a leaf provided with knuckles, washers positioned between said knuckles and base member and 50 equipped with circumferential flanges, pintles extending through said washers and providing a pivotal connection between said knuckles and base member, said pintles being provided with enlarged heads, caps enclosing said knuckles and frictionally engaged with said heads and washer flanges, and a cover enclosing said base member.

EDWIN W. NORTH. 

